Methods, systems, and apparatus for presenting participant information associated with a media stream

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments of systems, apparatus, and/or methods are described for selectively obscuring a rendering of a media stream. In one implementation, the method includes receiving a media stream with a receiving device, receiving event data associated with the media stream, generating identification data based at least in part on the event data, presenting the media stream and identification data on a presentation device, receiving at least one participant selection from a user interface device, retrieving participant information based on the at least one participant selection, and presenting the participant information on the presentation device.

BACKGROUND

Receiving devices, such as set-top boxes for satellite and cabletelevision services, allow a user to view media streams from a varietyof media sources. The receiving device renders a media stream afterreceiving a request from the user to view the media stream. For example,the user may send a request to the receiving device to change to adifferent television channel, then the receiving device tunes to the newtelevision channel and renders the media stream from the new televisionchannel. Each media stream that is rendered may involve differentparticipants. The participants may be actors, writers, directors, sportsplayers, coaches, referees, or other people involved in the mediastream. Often, the identities and information about the participants arenot known to the viewer, and may not be immediately available to theviewer.

Summary

The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and apparatus forpresenting participant information associated with a media stream. Inone implementation, the method includes receiving a media stream with areceiving device; receiving event data associated with the media stream;generating, by the receiving device, identification data based at leastin part on the event data; providing the media stream and theidentification data to a presentation device; receiving at least oneparticipant selection from a user interface device based on the providedidentification data; retrieving participant information based on the atleast one participant selection; and providing the participantinformation to the presentation device.

In one implementation, a receiving device includes a communicationmodule configured to receive a media stream and event data associatedwith the media stream; a control logic configured to generateidentification data based at least in part on the event data; arendering module configured to provide the media stream and theidentification data to a presentation device; and a user communicationmodule configured to receive at least one participant selection from auser interface device based on the identification data provided to thepresentation device. The control logic then retrieves participantinformation based on the at least one participant selection, and therendering module then provides the participant information to thepresentation device.

In some examples, the event data identifies one or more participantscurrently participating in the media stream. In some examples, theidentification data includes a list of participants currently beingpresented in the media stream. In some examples, the identification datacomprises an identifier of at least one participant currently beingpresented in the media stream. In some examples, the identifier includesa pop-up window linked to the at least one participant. In someexamples, the identifier includes a highlighted outline linked to the atleast one participant. In some examples, the event data is embedded inthe media stream. In some examples, the participant information isembedded in the media stream. In some examples, the participantinformation includes statistics associated with the at least oneselected participant. In some examples, the media stream includes one ormore of a sporting event media stream, a movie media stream, televisionshow media stream, musical event media stream, and an internet videomedia stream.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing summary and the followingdetailed description are for purposes of example and explanation and donot necessarily limit the present disclosure. The accompanying drawings,which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification,illustrate subject matter of the disclosure. Together, the descriptionsand the drawings serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The same number represents the same element or same type of element inall drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for presenting a mediastream and participant information to a user.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a receiving device in a system forpresenting a media stream and participant information to a user.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a presentation device displaying anaudio/video rendering of a media stream.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a presentation device displayingparticipant information.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a presentation device displaying anaudio/video rendering of a media stream.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a presentation device displayingparticipant information for a highlighted participant.

FIG. 7 illustrates another example of a presentation device displayingparticipant information for a highlighted participant.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing a method for presenting participantinformation on a presentation device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various embodiments described herein generally provide apparatus,systems and methods which facilitate the reception, processing,rendering, and outputting of a media stream. More particularly, thevarious embodiments described herein provide for the selection andidentification of one or more participants in the media stream by a userviewing the media stream. The various embodiments further provide forthe presentation of information about the selected participant.

In at least one embodiment, the media stream to be received, processed,rendered, and displayed may come in any form of media stream. Exemplarymedia stream formats include Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG)standards, Flash, Windows Media and the like. It is to be appreciatedthat the media stream may be supplied by any source, such as anover-the-air broadcast, a satellite, or cable television distributionsystem, a digital video disk (DVD) or other optical disk, the Internetor other communication networks, and the like. In at least oneembodiment, the media stream may be associated with supplemental datathat includes text data, such as closed captioning data or subtitles.Particular portions of the closed captioning data may be associated withspecified portions of the media stream.

Generally, a media stream is a contiguous block of associated audio andvideo data that may be transmitted to, and received by, an electronicreceiving device, such as a terrestrial (“over-the-air”) televisionreceiver, a cable television receiver, a satellite television receiver,an Internet connected television or television receiver, a computer, aportable electronic device, or the like. In at least one embodiment, amedia stream includes an event. The event may be a contiguous block ofprogramming from a television channel (e.g., an episode of a televisionshow or a football game) or other identifiable media content.

Further, a media stream may be delivered by any transmission method,such as broadcast, multicast, simulcast, closed circuit, pay-per-view,on-demand, over-the-top (by “streaming,” file transfer, or other means),or other methods. Additionally, the media stream may be transmitted byway of any communication technology, such as by satellite, wire oroptical cable, wireless, or other means. The media stream may also betransferred over any type of communication network, such as the Internetor other wide area network, a local area network, a private network, amobile communication system, a terrestrial television network, a cabletelevision network, and a satellite television network.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system 100 for presenting a mediastream and participant information to a user. The system 100 includes areceiving device 102, a presentation device 104 (e.g., a display andspeakers), and a user interface device 108. The receiving device 102 isoperable to receive media streams from a media source 110 and event datafrom a data source 112 through one or more communication networks 106.The event data from the data source 112 includes information about themedia streams being provided by the media source 110, as furtherdescribed herein. In some embodiments, the media source 110 and datasource 112 may be the same entity. In addition, in some embodiments, theevent data may be embedded in the media stream from the media source110.

The media source 110 provides media streams to the communication network106, which allows the receiving device 102 to access the media streams.Alternatively, in some embodiments, the media source 110 provides amedia stream directly to the receiving device 102 (either internally orexternally of the receiving device 102). Examples of media sources 110may include an over-the-air broadcast station, a cable televisionprovider, a satellite television provider, a storage medium containingcontent, an on-demand media streaming service, a pay-per-view mediastreaming service, and/or an over-the-top media streaming service (e.g.,internet video streaming).

The data source 112 provides event data to the communications network106, which allows the receiving device to access the event data.Alternatively, in some embodiments, the data source 112 provides eventdata directly to the receiving device 102 (either internally orexternally of the receiving device 102). Examples of data sources 112may include a television network, a sports league, a sports team, amovie/television studio, a third-party data compiler, an over-the-airbroadcast station, a cable television provider, a satellite televisionprovider, a storage medium containing event data, an on-demand mediastreaming service, a pay-per-view media streaming service, and/or anover-the-top media streaming service (e.g., internet video streaming).

The receiving device 102 may access the media source 110 in variousways. For example, the receiving device 102 may access a media streamfrom a satellite provider by demodulating and decrypting the mediastream provided to the communication network 106. The receiving device102 may access an over-the-top media streaming service by logging into aremote server and downloading the media stream over the communicationnetwork 106. The receiving device 102 may access a storage mediumconnected to the receiving device 102 using a local communication bus,such as parallel ATA (PATA, also called IDE or EIDE), Serial ATA (SATA),SCSI, Serial Attached SCSI (SAS), Fibre Channel, IEEE 1394 (also calledFireWire), USB, SCSI, or Thunderbolt.

The receiving device 102 may access the data source 112 in similar ways.For example, the event data from the data source 112 may be included ina media stream. The receiving device 102 may then access the event databy demodulating and decrypting the media stream provided to thecommunication network 106. The receiving device 102 may also access thedata source 112 by logging into a remote server and downloading theevent data over the communication network 106. The receiving device 102may also access event data stored in a data source 112 connected to thereceiving device 102 using a local communication bus, as describedabove.

The communication network 106 may be any network capable of distributinga media stream and/or data. Exemplary communication networks includeover-the-air broadcast networks, satellite television networks, cabletelevision networks, the Internet, cellular networks, WiFi networks,local area networks (LAN), and the like. The communication network 106may utilize any desired combination of wired (e.g., cable and fiber)and/or wireless (e.g., cellular, satellite, microwave, and radiofrequency) communication mediums and any desired network topology (ortopologies when multiple mediums are utilized).

The receiving device 102 of FIG. 1 may be any device capable ofreceiving a media stream and event data. For example, in the case of thecommunication network 106 being a satellite television network, thereceiving device 102 may be a set-top box (STB) configured tocommunicate with the satellite television network. In another example,the receiving device 102 may be computer, a personal digital assistant(PDA), or similar device configured to communicate with the Internet orcomparable data communication network 106.

The receiving device 102 utilizes the received media stream and eventdata to generate identification data corresponding to the media streamcurrently being rendered. The identification data identifies one or moreparticipants of a media stream currently being rendered by the receivingdevice 102. The participants may include actors, directors, writers,producers, musicians, sport players, coaches, referees, or other peopleinvolved in the current media stream. The receiving device 102 maycombine the identification data with the rendering of the media streamand provide the combined audio/video rendering to the presentationdevice 104 for display to a user.

The presentation device 104 may be any device configured to receive anaudio/video rendering from the receiving device 102 and present theaudio/video rendering to a user. Examples of the presentation device 104include a television, a video monitor, or similar device capable ofpresenting audio and video information to a user. The receiving device102 may be communicatively coupled to the presentation device 104through any type of wired or wireless connection. Exemplary wiredconnections include coax, fiber, composite video and high-definitionmultimedia interface (HDMI). Exemplary wireless connections includeWiFi, ultra-wide band (UWB) and Bluetooth. In some implementations, thepresentation device 104 may be integrated with the receiving device 102.For example, each of a computer, a PDA, and a mobile communicationdevice may serve as both the receiving device 102 and the presentationdevice 104 by providing the capability of receiving media streams andevent data from the communication network 106, and presenting thereceived media streams and identification data to a user. In anotherimplementation, a cable-ready television may include a converter devicefor receiving media streams and event data from the communicationnetwork 106, and displaying the media streams and identification data toa user.

In the system 100, a user requests the receiving device 102 to render amedia stream provided by the media source 110 with a user interfacedevice 108. The user interface device 108 may be a remote control, atouch screen, a mouse, a keyboard, a motion input device, a pointer, orother device capable of providing commands to the receiving device 102.Alternatively or in addition, the user interface device 108 may providecommands to the presentation device 104, which then relays the commandsto the receiving device 102.

The media stream includes audio data and video data. In one embodiment,the video data includes a series of digital frames, or single images tobe presented in a serial fashion to a user. Similarly, the audio datamay be composed of a series of audio samples to be presentedsimultaneously with the video data to the user. In one example, theaudio data and the video data may be formatted according to one of theMPEG encoding standards, such as MPEG-2 or MPEG-4, as may be used in DBSsystems, terrestrial Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC)systems or cable systems. However, different audio and video dataformats may be utilized in other implementations.

In addition to rendering a requested media stream, the receiving devicerenders identification data associated with the media stream andcombines the rendered identification data with the rendered mediastream. The identification data may be rendered as a window or outlineoverlaying the rendering of the media stream. Alternatively, theidentification data may be rendered instead of rendering the mediastream. The rendered identification data may include a list of theparticipants involved in the requested media stream. In someembodiments, the list of participants may include only thoseparticipants currently visible in the rendered media stream.Alternatively, instead of a list, the rendered identification data maybe an outline or other highlighting of the one or more participantscurrently visible in the rendered media stream. For example, if themedia stream is a football game, one or more of the players currently onthe field may be highlighted with their identification data.

After the identification data is rendered and displayed on thepresentation device 104, the user may select a specific participant fromthe rendered identification data. The user may select the participantwith the user interface device 108. For example, if the identificationdata is rendered as a list of participants, the user may highlight aname on the list of the participants with the user interface device 108,and then select the highlighted name. Alternatively, if theidentification data is rendered as an outline around the currentlyvisible participants, the user may highlight the participant themselveswith the user interface device 108, and then select the highlightedparticipant.

After a participant is selected, the receiving device 102 retrievesparticipant information associated with the selected participant. Theparticipant information may be included in the event data received fromthe data source 112. In some embodiments, the participant informationmay be embedded in the media stream. Alternatively, in otherembodiments, the participant information may be retrieved from other,third-party data sources, such as the Internet. The receiving device 102transmits a rendering of the participant information to the presentationdevice 104, where it may be viewed by the user. The participantinformation may include statistics, facts, or other information aboutthe selected participant. For example, if the participant is aquarterback on a football team, the participant information may includeyards thrown, yards run, number of sacks, former teams, collegeattended, age, etc.

The participant information may be rendered as a pop-up window linked tothe selected participant in the rendered media stream. Alternatively,the participant information may be rendering as a window along the sideof the rendered media stream.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a receiving device 102 in a system200 for presenting a media stream and participant information to a user.The receiving device 102 may be an example of the receiving devicedescribed in reference to FIG. 1.

The receiving device 102 will be described with reference to thecommunication network 106, media source 110, and data source 112described in the system 100 of FIG. 1. The receiving device 102 includesa communication module 212 for receiving a media stream 206 and eventdata 208. In some embodiments, the event data 208 may be embedded in themedia stream 206. One or more storage units 210 may be included internaland/or external to the receiving device 210. The storage unit 210 maystore media streams, event data, instructions, or other information forthe receiving device 102.

The receiving device 102 may also include user communication module 218,control logic 216, and a rendering module 222. The user communicationmodule 218 receives user input 219 from a user interface device 108. Theuser communication module 218 may also transmit signals to the userinterface device 108. The control logic 216 is operable to control thereception of media streams 206 and event data 208 by the communicationmodule 212. The control logic 216 may also coordinate the storage of amedia stream 206 and/or event data 208 to the storage unit 210. Thecontrol logic 216 also coordinates the output of a media stream 206 tothe rendering module 222. The rendering module 222 renders the mediastream 206 and outputs an audio/video rendering 224 to the presentationdevice 104. Furthermore, the receiving device 102 and system 200 mayinclude other components, modules, elements, or devices not illustratedfor the sake of brevity.

The communication module 212 may receive a media stream 206 from anytype of communication network 106. For example, the communication module212 may be capable of receiving a high definition media stream, astandard definition media stream, a 3-D media stream, an interne videostream, or other types of media streams.

In at least one embodiment, the control logic 216 may instruct thecommunication module 212 to tune to the particular broadcast channelcarrying the media stream 206. The communication module 212 may also beinstructed to receive event data 208 corresponding the media stream 206.The event data 208 may be included in the media stream 206 or may beretrieved from another data source 112.

The control logic 216 then generates identification data from the eventdata 208, and provides the identification data to the rendering module222. The identification data may include identifications of one or moreparticipants of the media stream 206. The rendering module 222 may theninclude the identification data as part of the audio/video rendering 224provided to the presentation device 104.

After the identification data is displayed on the presentation device104, the user communication module 218 may receive a user input 219selecting a particular participant included in the displayedidentification data. The control logic 216 then retrieves participantinformation corresponding to the selected participant from the receivedevent data 208. Alternatively, the control logic 216 may retrieve theparticipant information from other sources, such as the Internet, thestorage unit 210, or other data sources. The control logic 216 providesthe participant information to the rendering module 222, and therendering module 222 may then include the selected participantinformation as part of the audio/video rendering 224.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a presentation device 104 displaying anaudio/video rendering 302 of a media stream. The audio/video rendering302 includes one or more participants 304 and identification data 306identifying at least some of the participants involved in the mediastream. In some embodiments, the identification data 306 may identifyall participants involved in the media stream, or just thoseparticipants currently being displayed as part of the rendered mediastream. As shown in FIG. 3, the identification data 306 may be renderedas a window overlaying the rendered media stream. The identificationdata 306 includes a list of participants. The list of participants mayinclude all participants involved in the media stream, or may include asubset of the participants. For example, the list of participants mayonly include those participants 304 currently being displayed on thepresentation device 104.

A user may then select a particular participant from the participantslisted in the identification data 306. The user may select theparticular participant by highlighting and selecting a name in theidentification data 306 (e.g., “Participant A”). The particularparticipant may be highlighted and selected using a user interfacedevice, such as a remote control or touch screen.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a presentation device 104 displayingparticipant information 402. As shown in FIG. 4, the participantinformation 402 may be rendered as a window overlaying the renderedmedia stream. The participant information 402 being displayedcorresponds to the particular participant selected by the user from theidentification data 306 shown in FIG. 3. The participant information 402may include the name of the participant, and statistics, facts, or otherinformation related to the selected participant.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a presentation device 104 displaying anaudio/video rendering 502 of a media stream. As shown in FIG. 5, theaudio/video rendering 502 includes one or more participants 504 and atleast one highlighted participant 506. A user may select whichparticipant 504 is the highlighted participant 506 by inputting aselection with a user interface device 108, as described in reference toFIGS. 1 and 2. In some embodiments, the identification data may includethe position of the different participants 504 as they are displayed onthe presentation device 104. For example, when the media stream is beingrecorded, the participants may carry positional sensors (e.g., radiofrequency identification sensors) which track their location. Theselocations may then be translated into the positions where theparticipants 504 are displayed on the presentation device 104, andincluded in the event data. A receiving device 102 may then use thepositions in the event data to generate the highlight around thehighlighted participant 506.

The user may select which participant 504 should be the highlightedparticipant 506 using various input methods. For example, the user mayuse a pointing device or a touch screen to select the highlightedparticipant 506. Alternatively, the user may cycle through each of theparticipants 504 until the desired participant is highlighted. In someexamples, the user may highlight multiple or all participants. After thehighlighted participant 506 is selected, participant informationcorresponding to the highlighted participant may be retrieved anddisplayed.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a presentation device 104 displayingparticipant information 602 for a highlighted participant 506. As shownin FIG. 6, the participant information 602 may be rendered as a windowoverlaying the rendered media stream. The participant information 602being displayed corresponds to the highlighted participant 506. Thehighlighted participant 506 may be selected as described in reference toFIG. 5. The participant information 602 may include the name of theparticipant, and statistics, facts, or other information related to thehighlighted participant 506.

FIG. 7 illustrates another example of a presentation device 104displaying participant information 702 for a highlighted participant506. As shown in FIG. 7, the participant information 702 may be renderedas a pop-up window linked to the highlighted participant 506. The pop-upwindow may follow the highlighted participant 506 as the highlightedparticipant's position changes on the presentation device 104. Thehighlighted participant's position on the presentation device 104 may betracked using location information included in the event data, asdescribed in reference to FIG. 5. The participant information 702 beingdisplayed corresponds to the highlighted participant 506 that wasselected by the user. The participant information 702 may include thename of the participant, and statistics, facts, or other informationrelated to the highlighted participant 506.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing an example of a method 800 forpresenting participant information on a presentation device. The method800 may be performed by a receiving device, such as the receivingdevices described in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

At 802, a media stream is received by a receiving device. The mediastream may include a sporting event media stream, a movie media stream,television show media stream, musical event media stream, an internetvideo media stream, or other categories of media content.

At 804, event data associated with the media stream is received. Theevent data may identify one or more participants currently participatingin the media stream. In some embodiments, the event data may be embeddedin the media stream.

At 806, identification data is generated by the receiving device basedat least in part on the event data. In some embodiments, theidentification data may include a list of participants currently beingpresented in the media stream. In other embodiments, the identificationdata may include an identifier of at least one participant currentlybeing presented in the media stream. The identifier may include a pop-upwindow linked to the at least one participant. Alternatively, theidentifier may include a highlighted outline linked to the at least oneparticipant. The highlighted outline or pop-up window may track theparticipant's position using location information included in the eventdata.

At 808, the media stream and identification data are provided to apresentation device. The presentation device then displays the mediastream and identification data to a user.

At 810, at least one participant selection is received from a userinterface device based on the identification data being displayed on thepresentation device. The user may select a participant by highlightingone or more participants being displayed.

At 812, participant information is retrieved based on the at least oneparticipant selection. In some embodiments, the participant informationmay be embedded in the media stream. The participant information mayinclude statistics associated with the at least one selectedparticipant.

At 814, the participant information is provided to the presentationdevice. The presentation device may then present the participantinformation to the user. The participant information may be presented asa window overlaying a presentation of the media stream.

The method 800 may include additional acts, omit some acts, and/or mayperform the acts in a different order than set out in the FIG. 8.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, schematics,and examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, schematics, and examplescontain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that many functions and/or operations withinsuch block diagrams (e.g., the functions of the stream packer or streampacking apparatus), flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof and that designing thecircuitry and/or writing the code for the software and/or firmware wouldbe well within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art in light ofthe teachings of this disclosure. For example, the functions of thestream packer could be implemented in discrete logic with no centralprocessing unit (CPU) or software involvement.

When logic is implemented as software and stored in memory, logic orinformation can be stored on any non-transitory computer-readable mediumfor use by or in connection with any processor-related system or method.In the context of this disclosure, a memory is a nontransitory computer-or processor-readable storage medium that is an electronic, magnetic,optical, or other physical device or means that non-transitorilycontains or stores a computer and/or processor program. Logic and/or theinformation can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use byor in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, orother system that can fetch the instructions from the instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructionsassociated with logic and/or information.

In the context of this specification, a “computer-readable medium” canbe any physical element that can store the program associated with logicand/or information for use by or in connection with the instructionexecution system (e.g., the control logic 412), apparatus, and/ordevice. The computer-readable medium can be, for example, but is notlimited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared,or semiconductor system, apparatus or device. More specific examples (anon-exhaustive list) of the computer readable medium would include thefollowing: a portable computer diskette (magnetic, compact flash card,secure digital, or the like), a random access memory (RAM), a read-onlymemory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM,or Flash memory), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM), anddigital tape.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, ifnecessary, to employ systems, circuits and concepts of the variouspatents, applications and publications to provide yet furtherembodiments.

The above description of illustrated embodiments, including what isdescribed in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limitthe embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. Although specificembodiments and examples are described herein for illustrative purposes,various equivalent modifications can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the disclosure, as will be recognized by thoseskilled in the relevant art.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of theabove-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, theterms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should beconstrued to include all possible embodiments along with the full scopeof equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, theclaims are not limited by the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: receiving a media stream with a receiving device; receiving event data associated with the media stream; generating, by the receiving device, identification data based at least in part on the event data; providing the media stream and the identification data to a presentation device; receiving at least one participant selection from a user interface device based on the provided identification data; retrieving participant information based on the at least one participant selection; and providing the participant information to the presentation device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the event data identifies one or more participants currently participating in the media stream.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification data comprises a list of participants currently being presented in the media stream.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification data comprises an identifier of at least one participant currently being presented in the media stream.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the identifier comprises a pop-up window linked to the at least one participant.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the identifier comprises a highlighted outline linked to the at least one participant.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the event data is embedded in the media stream.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the participant information is embedded in the media stream.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the participant information comprises statistics associated with the at least one selected participant.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the media stream comprises one or more of a sporting event media stream, a movie media stream, television show media stream, musical event media stream, and an internet video media stream.
 11. A receiving device, comprising: a communication module configured to receive a media stream and event data associated with the media stream; a control logic configured to generate identification data based at least in part on the event data; a rendering module configured to provide the media stream and the identification data to a presentation device; and a user communication module configured to receive at least one participant selection from a user interface device based on the identification data provided to the presentation device, wherein the control logic retrieves participant information based on the at least one participant selection, and wherein the rendering module provides the participant information to the presentation device.
 12. The receiving device of claim 11, wherein the event data identifies one or more participants currently participating in the media stream.
 13. The receiving device of claim 11, wherein the identification data comprises a list of participants currently being presented in the media stream.
 14. The receiving device of claim 11, wherein the identification data comprises an identifier of at least one participant currently being presented in the media stream.
 15. The receiving device of claim 14, wherein the identifier comprises a pop-up window linked to the at least one participant.
 16. The receiving device of claim 14, wherein the identifier comprises a highlighted outline linked to the at least one participant.
 17. The receiving device of claim 11, wherein the event data is embedded in the media stream.
 18. The receiving device of claim 11, wherein the participant information is embedded in the media stream.
 19. The receiving device of claim 11, wherein the participant information comprises statistics associated with the at least one selected participant.
 20. The receiving device of claim 11 wherein the media stream comprises one or more of a sporting event media stream, a movie media stream, television show media stream, musical event media stream, and an internet video media stream. 